Council agrees to delay 145th Street Light Rail Station Area preferred alternative decision

From the City of Shoreline

On March 23, the Shoreline City Council unanimously agreed to delay making a decision on the preferred alternative to be studied in the 145th Street Light Rail Station Subarea Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The Council accepted the Planning Commission's recommendation to wait until after completion of the 145th Street/SR 523 Corridor Study. The corridor study is scheduled to be completed in December 2015.

The City conducted a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 145th Street Light Rail Station Subarea Plan in 2014. The DEIS studied the impacts of three different rezoning scenarios around the station area. The Planning Commission reviewed the results earlier this year and were scheduled to make a recommendation to the Council on a preferred alternative to be studied in the FEIS at their February 19 meeting. However, they instead recommended that the Council delay making a decision on the preferred alternative until after the 145th Street/SR 523 Corridor Study is completed later this year.

The City is currently engaged in a year-long study of the corridor, which is a key east-west connection for the region linking bus rapid transit on Aurora, I-5, and eventually light rail. In need of significant upgrades, the corridor study will include development of a master plan for improving pedestrian and bicycle mobility, safety and operations, transit speed and reliability, and freight mobility on the corridor.

If the corridor study is completed on schedule, then the council could be in a position to move forward with selection of a preferred alternative for the 145th Street Station Subarea in January 2016.

For more information visit the website or contact Senior Planner Miranda Redinger 206-801-2513.